Great Lakes United ¡ñ Izaak Walton League of America
Michigan United Conservation Clubs ¡ñ National Wildlife Federation
Contacts: Tony Hansen, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, 517-346-6483
John Trimberger, Izaak Walton League of America, 616-866-8475
Jen Nalbone, Great Lakes United, 716-213-0408
Jordan Lubetkin, National Wildlife Federation, 734-769-3351 x 23
Clamp Down on Ballast Discharge to Stop Spread
Of Dangerous Disease, Say Conservation Groups
Lansing, MI-In an effort to stop the spread of a dangerous fish virus, conservation groups are urging a clamp-down on ballast water discharges by Great Lakes ships.
In a letter released yesterday, 28 organizations from around the Great Lakes called on Mike Johanns, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to use his authority to stop the spread of a dangerous fish disease, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS).
¡°The movement of ballast water is a prime vector that could spread the virus, or fish infected with the virus, to the uninfected Great Lakes,¡± says Sam Washington, Executive Director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, a statewide non-profit dedicated to addressing the concerns of Michigan¡¯s sportsmen and women. ¡°Secretary Johanns has the authority to protect our multi billion dollar Great Lakes fishery by regulating the movement of infected ballast water¨Cand he must take action before this deadly disease spreads further.¡±
VHS is a fish disease that causes death through internal bleeding that has recently been found in the Great Lakes. First confirmed in Lake St. Clair in 2003, VHS has infected Lakes Erie and Ontario, as well as the St. Lawrence River. It is not known how VHS was initially introduced into the Great Lakes, however, genetic evidence suggests that the virus originated from the Atlantic coast of North America, possibly introduced via transport in ballast water or from the migration of infected fish. VHS has yet to be found in Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan, and Great Lakes groups want to ensure it stays that way.
AHPIS issued a federal order on November 14, 2006, which modified restrictions regarding the movement of live fish susceptible to VHS. Since then, state agencies and organizations within the Great Lakes regions have appealed to APHIS requesting that the agency also control the potential for the virus to move from basin to basin via ballast water.
¡°In order for APHIS to achieve the goal of stopping the spread of this dangerous fish virus it must control all means of conveyance, both the state-to-state transport of fish as well as infected ballast water,¡± says John Trimberger, President of the Michigan Division of the Izaak Walton League of America. ¡°Solving half of the problem means not solving it at all.¡±
Under the Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA) the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to ¡°prohibit or restrict the importation or movement in interstate commerce of any animal, article, or means of conveyance if the Secretary determines that the prohibition/restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction or spread of any pest or disease.¡±
The unregulated exchange of ballast water within the Great Lakes by large freighters is a likely means by which many of our current invasive species have spread throughout the lakes. By using his authority under the AHPA, Secretary Johanns can regulate ballast water on ships and keep VHS from spreading around the Great Lakes.
¡°Stopping the spread of VHS is a top priority and illustrates why we needed to put in place protections years ago to stop invasive species and diseases from getting here in the first place,¡± says Jen Nalbone, Invasive Species Campaign Director for Great Lakes United. ¡°Congress must wake up and pass comprehensive legislation that prevents new invasions introduced by salties, controls the spread of invaders already here by lakers, and closes the door to invaders from other predominant vectors.¡±
Since its initial discovery, VHS has produced massive fish kills, killing thousands of muskellunge, yellow perch, and freshwater drums.
¡°Solutions exist to stop the spread of this fish virus, to prevent the introduction of invasive species, and to restore the health of the lakes,¡± says Andy Buchsbaum, director for the National Wildlife Federation¡¯s Great Lakes office. ¡°Every day we wait, the problems get worse and more costly. It¡¯s time that Congress and other decision-makers stop dragging their feet and start acting decisively to protect our drinking water, economy, and quality of life.¡±
For Immediate Release:
December 22, 2006
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